100 Greatest Comic Book Movies Of All Time
31. X-Men
X-Men is where it all started. Telling the tale of a group of mutant misfits replete with their own special powers, the heart of the X-Men narrative is one of society’s intolerance to those that are different, and the collective power of standing together against that which is wrong.
That sounds really touching - it also has people melting into goo and a gross man who’s superpowers are literally being a toad, so y’know, there’s a bit of everything.
Bryan singer’s first entry into the franchise and the birth of Xavier’s students in the filmic world is a sight to behold, sparking the first flames for the now-raging forest fire of superhero movies dominating the film market. You also have X-Men to thank for Hugh Jackman. And blue people. And the best line about zapping amphibians with lightning bolts you’ll ever hear.
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30. Iron Man
Looking back, Iron Man is one hell of an achievement. Not only for kickstarting the MCU (the post-credits scene includes Nick Fury mentioning the "Avengers protocol"), but for focusing on such an overlooked, underrated character, and blowing him up to Spider-Man levels.
Ol' Shell Head had never been done justice on the big screen, but the combination of Jon Favreau's punchy direction, a four-man script and the literally-ripped-from-the-page chemistry of Robert Downey Jnr was a recipe for the ages.
Every frame of this is still watchable and engaging as hell, comprising some immensely memorable set-pieces, a great showcase of technology, an evil Jeff Bridges and a supporting cast that elevate everyone else in tandem.
One of the MCU's finest, it was downhill from here for Iron Man's trilogy, but when the bar is this high, you can't get too angry.
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29. Iron Man 3
Marvel have been praised recently for letting unique voices like Taika Waititi and Ryan Coogler unleash their sensibilities on the MCU, so much so it’s often overlooked they’d already done exactly that back in 2013.
It may be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe - and a crucial one at that with regards to Tony Stark’s arc - but this is quintessentially a Shane Black film.
The twist draws some ire, but it’s genuinely stunning (and makes the film much better), and the movie overall balances Black’s trademark dark wit with a complex, heartfelt story and some sizzling action sequences, alongside one of Robert Downey Jr’s best performances in the role.
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